Today as I was riding to Tulsa on my motorcycle (thank you Jesus for that wonderful gift! Please bless Tom today for bring a giver. I pray that he will receive back 2 motorcycles, both better than this one), I was listening through the Old Testament. Then I re-listened to some favorites again. Nahum, Micah, Obadiah, Ezra, Nehemiah. Good stuff.
In the second chapter of Nehemiah, shortly after I crossed the Oklahoma line, I was musing to myself what a leader Nehemiah was; strategic, organized, purposeful, and courageous. All stuff I want to grow in.
"Wow God", I said out loud to the wind rushing by my head. "I like these qualities in this leader."
Suddenly, as I was trying to adjust myself in the saddle that I had been in for the past 1100 miles, God spoke right there on the middle of Rt. 44: "Who does that remind you of?"
"Jason Fitch", I said, suddenly hugely aware that God was hanging out with a biker. It was stinkin' hot, but I was getting chills.
"Me too", God said right back. "Same spirit, same calling, and a man through whom I plan to have similar results. He will rebuild the ancient ruins in the heart of my nation. He will be a wall builder, who devises ways to keep the enemy out."
"Generations of families will look back and thank this man for his visionary sacrifice and hard work on their behalf," the Lord went on. "Like the walls of Jerusalem, he will rebuild the framework of the city (country) destroyed because of it's disobedience. Rebuilding the walls will usher in the courage to rebuild the temple, which will rebuild the character of a once great nation.
Like Nehemiah, I have sent him far away from the post he once had. He will lead the leaders to do the work they have always wanted to do, but never found the courage and organization to do it. He will get it done. I sent him with the provision that he needed, and more is being sent. I have sent troops to protect him, and letters with orders to cause others to give whether they want to or not.
Like Nehemiah, he will be opposed, but with wisdom and focus, he will continue in the work he has been called to do, no matter what anyone else says or does. And he will fully accomplish the purposes for which he was sent. Like Nehemiah, he has not even been able to tell people yet, what I have planned to do through him, because they would not be able to take it in.
Also like Nehemiah, I have sent an Ezra (Jake) to work with him. This man will teach the people the things of God, and will purify the people that God has sent. He will also raise up leaders around him who will carry his work and his fame far beyond the actual things that he himself does.
I am rejoicing over these men, because their obedience now means that I can trust them with far greater things later. In them is the heart of a priest who is a king-maker, and an advisor to rulers of the nation of nations".
Jason, your name comes from the same root as the name 'Jesus', or Joshua meaning 'healer', or 'the Lord is salvation'. This is important for what God said next.
"You have not been named by your father or mother, but by my own mouth", says the Lord. Jesus is seen in you, but will be seen even greater, and many will come to the "Lord our salvation' because of what I have called you to do."
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday, May 07, 2010
needs tension
God is teaching me about various resistances that I have received in life.
When Julie and I announced our engagement, a Sunday School teacher got critical of us. "what are you thinking?", he laughed. "You are way too young!!" Truth be told, we were only 19 and 17 at that point.
I was angry with him for telling me I am not smart. But what that interaction did was cause me to think deeply about my choices and make sure I was ready for it. Julie and I agreed to break up for a short time and see if we could stand it. We couldn't, and because of that confrontation and subsequent soul searching I would not easily change my mind later at the first sign of challenge to our love.
And then there was the pastor who told me "that is the worst vision I ever heard", when I told him about my desire to help people who have given up on church. He told me that I would have a church full of hurting people, who would in turn hurt each other because hurting people do that.
I wonder if I would even remember the value of my vision to reach people who have given up on church, if I had not received the criticism, and been therefore forced to think deeply about it, pray it more carefully, and make it a sure thing. That pastor helped me so much by honestly reflecting his thoughts that day.
And the pastor who told me that he and his board prayed about us, and God spoke. He said God told them that I had made a mistake and wanted to move back home, so they took up an offering and presented me with $150 bucks to rent the truck to get back home.
What his action did, was cause me to carefully think and pray about why I was here in Adam's County and why I had not started this church somewhere else. After that prayer season, I never really doubted it again, and instead rehearsed over and over all the reasons I was sure God sent us here.
The tension each of these situations created, were intense and not fun. But the results were, God made Himself even more clear in my heart, and I ended up very clear about what I was to do.
I should have thanked these guys. Too many times a brilliant thought has come... and was lost for lack of creative tension. Unopposed, these thoughts went quickly forgotten.
At least I guess they did, but since there was no tension, I'm not sure, because I don't remember!
I got my share of critics now, who tell me about all that I am not doing well. I should thank them, when usually I let them stir that old spirit of rejection inside of me, and feel sorry for myself. And fear. And resentment.
I'm sorry God.
When Julie and I announced our engagement, a Sunday School teacher got critical of us. "what are you thinking?", he laughed. "You are way too young!!" Truth be told, we were only 19 and 17 at that point.
I was angry with him for telling me I am not smart. But what that interaction did was cause me to think deeply about my choices and make sure I was ready for it. Julie and I agreed to break up for a short time and see if we could stand it. We couldn't, and because of that confrontation and subsequent soul searching I would not easily change my mind later at the first sign of challenge to our love.
And then there was the pastor who told me "that is the worst vision I ever heard", when I told him about my desire to help people who have given up on church. He told me that I would have a church full of hurting people, who would in turn hurt each other because hurting people do that.
I wonder if I would even remember the value of my vision to reach people who have given up on church, if I had not received the criticism, and been therefore forced to think deeply about it, pray it more carefully, and make it a sure thing. That pastor helped me so much by honestly reflecting his thoughts that day.
And the pastor who told me that he and his board prayed about us, and God spoke. He said God told them that I had made a mistake and wanted to move back home, so they took up an offering and presented me with $150 bucks to rent the truck to get back home.
What his action did, was cause me to carefully think and pray about why I was here in Adam's County and why I had not started this church somewhere else. After that prayer season, I never really doubted it again, and instead rehearsed over and over all the reasons I was sure God sent us here.
The tension each of these situations created, were intense and not fun. But the results were, God made Himself even more clear in my heart, and I ended up very clear about what I was to do.
I should have thanked these guys. Too many times a brilliant thought has come... and was lost for lack of creative tension. Unopposed, these thoughts went quickly forgotten.
At least I guess they did, but since there was no tension, I'm not sure, because I don't remember!
I got my share of critics now, who tell me about all that I am not doing well. I should thank them, when usually I let them stir that old spirit of rejection inside of me, and feel sorry for myself. And fear. And resentment.
I'm sorry God.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
the making of a man of God
Almost every year these days, I get to be in an ordination service, as one of my team members gets ordained. I have been attending them since I started ministry in 1983. Tonight, Rick Roth and Al DiSalvatore got ordained! I am very proud of these guys.
It takes me back to my own ordination. In the past 27 years, I have desperately hung onto the hope that we are prevailing and winning in the Kingdom of God. I was excited when the 90's were about the Decade of Harvest, and when various other changes, ideas, and programs to reach people were rolled out.
But one more time today, I was handed a report that read that 83% of the people in Pennsylvania are unsaved. My district (the fellowship that I am part of) has almost exactly the same number of churches that it has had for decades. Less and less people per capita, are bound for eternal life. For the past 27 years that I have been in ministry, we have lost ground pretty much every year!
So I was in Panera the other day and a young man sort of asked me for advice for a young guy starting out. I thought for a moment and said "don't listen to anyone my age". He was a little startled, but I pressed on: "in my ministry lifetime, my ministry colleagues and I have lost the battle. Half as many people attend church as did when I started ministry in '83. How is that not a failure? The worst thing that could happen is for guys your age to listen to guys my age to learn ministry. You might get infected with the ideas that kept us from prevailing and getting the job done! We have failed!"
So, to the 23 ordained tonight, here's the deal. You certainly have a harvest field that is plentiful. You have so many people to reach! We need you so badly, to help us, and to go beyond us, and to not listen to closely to whatever flimsy ideas we have, because we did not get the job done!
I'm sorry about that.
But you are our hope, you are God's answer, you are what we need- more workers in the Harvest Field! May God help you go much further than we ever have and reach far more people than we did! We need you to help us figure out how to win!
It takes me back to my own ordination. In the past 27 years, I have desperately hung onto the hope that we are prevailing and winning in the Kingdom of God. I was excited when the 90's were about the Decade of Harvest, and when various other changes, ideas, and programs to reach people were rolled out.
But one more time today, I was handed a report that read that 83% of the people in Pennsylvania are unsaved. My district (the fellowship that I am part of) has almost exactly the same number of churches that it has had for decades. Less and less people per capita, are bound for eternal life. For the past 27 years that I have been in ministry, we have lost ground pretty much every year!
So I was in Panera the other day and a young man sort of asked me for advice for a young guy starting out. I thought for a moment and said "don't listen to anyone my age". He was a little startled, but I pressed on: "in my ministry lifetime, my ministry colleagues and I have lost the battle. Half as many people attend church as did when I started ministry in '83. How is that not a failure? The worst thing that could happen is for guys your age to listen to guys my age to learn ministry. You might get infected with the ideas that kept us from prevailing and getting the job done! We have failed!"
So, to the 23 ordained tonight, here's the deal. You certainly have a harvest field that is plentiful. You have so many people to reach! We need you so badly, to help us, and to go beyond us, and to not listen to closely to whatever flimsy ideas we have, because we did not get the job done!
I'm sorry about that.
But you are our hope, you are God's answer, you are what we need- more workers in the Harvest Field! May God help you go much further than we ever have and reach far more people than we did! We need you to help us figure out how to win!
Sunday, May 02, 2010
18 years of Freedom Valley
Today it's been 18 years.
I forgot about it, actually. We were going about our business and it was a wonderful weekend. I just didn't think about it being our birthday until later. We were busy teaching on forgiveness, graduating a new (and incredibly bright, talented, and anointed) class of Master's Commission students, and celebrating the launch of our newest sites to notice.
On the one hand I wish we had celebrated. On the other hand, we have always been far more about the future than about the past. I love what God did, and that He let me ride along, but I also feel like I have a lot to do to accomplish what He put us here for.
I hate goodbyes, endings, funerals, and most everything else about the past. It's the future that I really prefer to dwell on. The past has an unsavory finality and painful healing to it. I am not a great planner, and make ridiculous amounts of mistakes that lurk there in my past like an old smelly shoe. The future has hope, vision, and unlimited possibility. I like the future.
It's not complicated, what I see for the future. I am asking God for 100 new churches, many of which will hopefully pass Freedom Valley quickly in every significant way. The 10 years after that, I am asking the God that prefers bold requests, for 1000 churches, and some way to affect our culture with permanent Heaven-populating movement toward God.
I forgot about it, actually. We were going about our business and it was a wonderful weekend. I just didn't think about it being our birthday until later. We were busy teaching on forgiveness, graduating a new (and incredibly bright, talented, and anointed) class of Master's Commission students, and celebrating the launch of our newest sites to notice.
On the one hand I wish we had celebrated. On the other hand, we have always been far more about the future than about the past. I love what God did, and that He let me ride along, but I also feel like I have a lot to do to accomplish what He put us here for.
I hate goodbyes, endings, funerals, and most everything else about the past. It's the future that I really prefer to dwell on. The past has an unsavory finality and painful healing to it. I am not a great planner, and make ridiculous amounts of mistakes that lurk there in my past like an old smelly shoe. The future has hope, vision, and unlimited possibility. I like the future.
It's not complicated, what I see for the future. I am asking God for 100 new churches, many of which will hopefully pass Freedom Valley quickly in every significant way. The 10 years after that, I am asking the God that prefers bold requests, for 1000 churches, and some way to affect our culture with permanent Heaven-populating movement toward God.
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